Envelope flap conditioning apparatus



1964 A. w. RASTORGUYEFF ETAL 3,162,435

ENVELOPE] FLAP counmomwc APPARATUS -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1962INVENTORS Andrew h). fiasl'drgv ezq lawence I Kresah.

a: By QM W Dec. 22, 1964 A. w. RASTORGUYEFF ETAL 3,162,435

ENVELOPE FLAP CONDITIONING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5,1962 l w fi ll i mm 53 :3}

[awrence T. Kresah United States Patent Ofilice 3,152,435 Patented Dec.22, 1964 3,162,435 ENVELOE FLAP CGNDETISENHNG APPARATUS Andrew W.Rastorguyeif, Norwallr, and Lawrence J. Kresan, Springdale, Conn,assignors to Pitney-Bowes, Inc, Stamford, Conn, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Sept. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 221,537 4 Claims. ((15. 271-2}This invention relates to an improved apparatu for handling articlesthat each have a bent over flap. More particularly the invention relatesto a novel conditioning means which is adapted to engage and fold backthe bent over flap on envelopes and the like that are being serially fedto a work station.

There are many instances when it is desired to deliver envelopes in anopened condition to a work station so that the envelopes are therebycapable of receiving one or more sheets or other documents that are tobe manually or automatically inserted therein. Here the envelope must befed to the sheet inserting work station with the flap bent and held backso as to permit access to the inside of the envelope. When this type ofenvelope opening operation is being serially carried out at high cyclicrates of speed as occurs in the operation of some automatic mailinserting machines the flap engaging and bending devices used must notonly be operationally reliable but must not seriously rumple orotherwise damage the various portions of the envelope material.

.One object of the instant invention is to provide a very reliable andeflicient envelope flap opening device which has a minimum number ofparts and which is operated in response to a transport movement of theenvelope.

gAnother objectof the invention is to provide an improved envelope flapconditioning means which will accommodate a Wide variety of envelopeshaving different paper thickness and rigidity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel envelope flapconditioning means which is operated by a reactive force generated by adeformation of the envelope material itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel envelopeconditioning means which is capable of engaging and bending back anenvelope flap and which is displaced from an inoperative position to anoperative position by a reactive force that is created by the movementof the envelope past saidmeans.

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide a novel envelopeiiapconditioning means which is characterized by an envelope flapengaging edge that is biased into operative engagement with a movingenvelope by a force which is a function of the rigidity of the envelopematerial.

A further object of the invention is to provide an imroved envelope flapopening lever arrangement whereby section line 1-1 of FIG.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are similar to FIG. 1 and illustrate active conditionsof the parts shown;

FIG.;5 is a front elevational view with certain parts broken awayandfurther illustrates the construction and organization of the instantapparatus.

A very general description of the function of theinstant invention :willbe made first with reference to FIG. 1.

The apparatus comprises two principal parts namely an envelope transportmechanism and a cooperating envelope flap conditioning means. Thegeneral type of transport unit used here is not critical and may'be ofanysuitable type other than the illustrative arrangement disclosed solong as it cooperates with the envelope flap conditioning means andproduces an envelope transporting movement corresponding to thathereinafter described. The itransport-mechanism is adapted to seriallyfeed envelopes,.- fiap up and trailing, past a pivoted flapconditioning-member 60. FIG. 1. Depending feeler fingers on member 60are adapted to guide an envelope through .an arcuate .path and to beswung outwardly by .the moving envelope whereby a flap intercepting edgeor nose formed on the upper part of member 60 is reactively pressedagainst the adjacent faces of the envelope so as .to slidably engage andfold back the envelope flap as the latter approaches and passes member:60. This actioniis progressivcly illustrated by FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Theforce with which said flap intercepting nose presses against themvelopeis a function of the rigidity of the envelope.ma terial, i.e. to thedeformation resistance oiferediby said material against the action ofthe depending fingers of member 60.

Considering now the structural details of the transport system shown inFIGS. 1 and 5 a pair of vertical side frames 10 and 11 are fixed'inparallel spaced relationon a base 12 and rotatably support a main shaft13 to which is fixed a main feed roll 14. A feed belt shaft 15 -is alsorotatably supported by the side frames and has an axially spaced pair ofpulleys 16;and 17 fixedthereto and around which the lower portions offlexible feed belts 20 and 21 are woundrespectively. The upper endsiofbelts 20, 21 run in suitable annular grooves formed in the main feedroll 14, the outer surface of the belt portions in the roll groovesbeing substantially fiush with the adjacent cylindrical surfaces of theroll. The portion ofeach belt between its associated pulley and roll lt-extends generally rearwardly and downwardly. The main roll 14 and thebelts are adapted to be rotatably driven bya pulley 2 2 which is securedto an outer end of roll shaft 13 and which is operatively connected bymeans of a belt 23 to a pulley 24 that is securedto the shaft of a motor25. A drive shaft 26 is rotatablyrnounted on the side frames 10, 11 andhas affixed thereto a spacedpair of frictionrollers 30 and 31 which havecylindrical outer surfaces thatre spectively contact the outer surfacesof the adjacent portions of belts 2t), 21. On one end of theshaft 26thereis secured a gear 32 which meshes with a gear 33 secured to themain shaft 13. As wil-lbe apparent friction rollers 39, 31 are rotatablydriven along with the roll '14 and the belts 2Q, 21 upon energization ofmotor 25. The gear and pulley speed ratios are respectively chosen sothat the peripheral speed of the friction rollers 30, 311s substantiallythe same as the linear speed of the belts 2t), 21. A pair of spaced beltpressing rollers 34 and 35 are respectively rotatably mounted on thefree ends of arms 36 and 37 that are fixed to a cross shaft 46 rotatablymounted on the machine side frames. The rightend, FIG. 5, of cross shaft40 has an arms fixed thereto which is connected to a spring 42 that isanchored torthe machine side frame 19, the spring 42 serving to bias therollers 34- and 35 into engagement with the belts 29, 21 respectively atpositions opposite the friction drive rollers 3t), 31 respectively.

A pair of transversely disposed envelope guide 'members 43 and 44 aremounted on the side frames 10 and 11 While a guide roll .45is-rotatabl'y mountcdin bushings .46 and 47 that are respectivelyvertically guided in-s'imi- .lar vertical slots 59, FIG. 1, formedinieach of the upper portions of the side frames. The guide vrolldS isbiased downwardly by gravity or by a suitable springmeans toward themain roll :14. A feed hopper. illustrated rat hopper so that the flapsare up and facing forwardly toward the guide roll 45. Thereafter: whenthe friction disc roller 53 is rotated the first envelope 52a isfrictionally separated and fed between the main roll 14 and the guideroll 45, around and along belts 20, 21, past guide 43 and betweenrollers 30, 31 and belts 20, 21, and finally ontothe guide surface 44leading to a downstream work station, this transport movement of theenvelope'taking place with the flap trailing.

The above described envelope transport system has structurally andfunctionally cooperating with it the elongated transversely disposedenvelope flap conditioning member 60 which by means of a shaft 61 ismounted between the machine side frames for pivotal movement about anaxis that extends substantially parallel to the axis of roll 14. Themember 60 comprises a body portion 62 and a plurality of laterallyspaced depending feeler fingers 63 which are adapted to swing into andout of the respectively associated annular grooves 64 formed in theadjacent periphery of the roll 14. The upper inclined surface 65 ofmember 60 is provided along its rearward side with a transverselyextending flap intercepting edge or nose 66 which extends substantiallyparallel to the length of the adjacent peripheral surface of themainroll 14. In one embodiment that has been constructed the cross sectionprofile of nose 66 has a radius of between .010 and .060 inch. Themember 60 is pivotally biased by a spring 67 which is anchored to theframe stud 68, the fingers 63 thus normally seating against the bottomof the roll grooves 64 while the flap engaging nose 66 is normallypositioned a short distance away from the surface of roll 14 as shown inFIG. 1.

In the operation of the instant apparatus when the first envelope 52a isfed between the guide roll 45 and the main roll 14 the bottom or leadingedge of theenvelope will pass freely beneath the nose 66 and will engagethe biased depending fingers 63. This contact will cause the member 60to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction,

FIG. 2-, against the action of spring 67 so that fingers 63 swingoutwardly of the roll grooves 64 and the nose 66 swings into slidingcontact with the adjacent upper surface or face of the moving envelope52a as illustrated in FIG. 2. The contact point of nose 66 with theenvelope is located a short distance after the point where the'envelopebegins its arcuate trajectory or path about the roll 14. The'contactforce between nose 66 and the moving envelope is a function of therigidity of the envelope matenal, re. a function of the deformationresistive force which is afforded by the envelope material in being madefirst to bend around the areuate feed path and secondly totransversely'bridge the .roll grooves 64 under the loadingactionof'fingers 63. 'As the transport movement of $116 envelope 52acontinues the leading edge of the envelope Wlll be guided by member 43between the belts 2t 21 and the driven disc rollers 30', 31 which nowserve to frictionallydraw. the envelope along its feed path. As the.upwardftrailing envelope fiap 52b approaches the nose 6.6- it will tendto move tangentially with respect to the adjacent portion of the mainroll .14 instead of 7, following the arcuateenvelope feeding path andthis will 1' facilitate the interception of the flap edge by the upperinclined surface of member 60 as illustrated in FIG. 2. As thenos'e 66which is pressing against the upper enve- V rlope face rides under theflap the latter will move up {wardly along surface 65 as illustrated inFIG. 3 until the a j nose reaches the fold between the flap 52b and thebody of e nvelope "Atthis point the continued feed move- 67 will swingthe member 60 to its said normal position wherein the fingers ride onthe bottom of the roll grooves 64 and the nose 66 is again positionedinspaced relation with respect to the adjacent surface of the roll 14preparatory to receiving the next envelope to be delivered by theseparating roller 53. In this manner each cycle of operation of thetransport mechanism in combination and cooperation with the envelopeflap conditioning member 60 serves to feed to a work station an envelopethat is in a predetermined opened condition.

As will be apparent the instant envelope conditioning means 60, 67 etc.is simple and inexpensive in construction and the minimum number ofparts involved insure a high degree of operational reliability for highas well as low speed envelope handling apparatus.

Since many changes could be made in the embodiment of the invention asparticularly described and shown herein without departing from the scopeof the invention, it is intended that this embodiment be considered asexemplary and that the invention not be limited except as warranted bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for handling articles each of which has a bent overflap:

a frame;

transport means for serially transporting individual articles through aflap conditioning station, said transport means including an articlefeed roll that is rotatably mounted on said frame; flap interceptingmember, said member having an article flap engaging nose which extendssubstantially parallel to the axis of said roll, there normally being anarrow gap between said nose and the adjacent periphery of said roll;mounting means for movably mounting said flap intercepting member onsaid frame, the movement of said member being such that said flapengaging nose moves along a predetermined path which when extendedintersects the surface of said roll;

said flap intercepting member having camming means fixedly connectedthereto, said camming means comprising at least one feeler finger thatis displaceable in response to the transport movement of an articlethroughthe fiap conditioning station so as to press said flap engagingnose against that portion of the article that is supported by said roll,said nose thereby slidably engaging the flap side face'of said articleso as to intercept and bend the flap of said article as the latter movesthrough said flap conditioning station.

2. In an apparatus for handling articles each of which has a bent overflap:

aframe; V

transportl means for serially transporting individual articles through aflap conditioning station, said transport means including an articlesupport means mounted on said frame and having an operative surface forsupporting anarticle that is being transported through said station; 0 vflap inter epting member, said member having an article flapengagingnose which extends substantially parallel to the axis of saidoperative surface, there ,norr nally being a narrow, gap between saidnose and the said operative surface; p 1 g H mounting m eans for movablymounting saidflap intercepting member on sfaidframe the movement of 3said member being such that said flap en aging nose moves along apredetermined path which when extended intersects said operativesurface;

said flap intercepting member having camming means fixedly connectedthereto, said camming means corn prising at least one feeler finger,said feeler finger eing arranged so as to be displaceable in response tothe transport movement of an article through said flap conditioningstation so as to thereby press said fiap engaging nose against thatportion of the article that is supported by said operative surface, saidnose thereby slidably engaging the flap side face of said article so asto intercept and bend back the flap of said article as the latter movesthrough said flap conditioning station.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein the force with which saidnose is pressed against said fiap side face of the article is a functionof the stiffness and the extent of deformation of said article as thelatter moves through said flap conditioning station.

4. In an apparatus for handling articles each of which has a bent overflap:

a frame;

transport means for serialiy transporting articles over an arcuate paththrough a flap conditioning station, said transport means including anarticle feed roll that is rotatably mounted on said frame;

a flap intercepting member pivotally mounted on said frame, said memberhaving an article flap engaging nose which extends substantiallyparallel to the axis an article feeler finger fixed to said flapintercepting member and having an outer end which is adapted to be swunginto and out of a cooperating annular groove formed in the adjacentportion of the periphery of said roll, the finger swinging movementaccompanying a pivotal movement of said article flap interceptingmember;

spring means for yieldabiy retaining said flap intercepting member in anormal position wherein said nose is spaced a short distance from theadjacent periphery of said roll and the end of said finger is disposedin said roll groove;

and means for causing each article to initially engage the periphery ofsaid roll at a point before the effective point of cooperation of saidroll periphery and said nose whereby when an article is fed through theflap conditioning station said article will move through an arcuate pathwith said roll periphery and will force the end of said finger out ofsaid grooves against the action of said spring means whereby said noseis pressed into engagement with that portion of the article which issupported by said roll periphcry, said nosethcreby slidably engaging theflap side face of said article so as to intercept and bend back the flapof said article as the latter moves through said flap conditioningstation.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ofsaid roli and which is swingable towards and 946,071 Robbins Jan. 11,1910 away from the periphery of said feed roll, said nose 1,747,384Olson et al. Feb. 18, 1930 when swung towards said roll being adapted topress 1,784,854 Tufts et al Dec. 16 1930 an article against theperiphery of said roll; 3,024,716 Limberger Mar. 13, 1962

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES EACH OF WHICH HAS A BENT OVERFLAP: A FRAME; TRANSPORT MEANS FOR SERIALLY TRANSPORTING INDIVIDUALARTICLES THROUGH A FLAP CONDITIONING STATION, SAID TRANSPORT MEANSINCLUDING AN ARTICLE FEED ROLL THAT IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME;A FLAP INTERCEPTING MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING AN ARTICLE FLAP ENGAGINGNOSE WHICH EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID ROLL,THERE NORMALLY BEING A NARROW GAP BETWEEN SAID NOSE AND THE ADJACENTPERIPHERY OF SAID ROLL; MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID FLAPINTERCEPTING MEMBER ON SAID FRAME, THE MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER BEINGSUCH THAT SAID FLAP ENGAGING NOSE MOVES ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH WHICHWHEN EXTENDED INTERSECTS THE SURFACE OF SAID ROLL; SAID FLAPINTERCEPTING MEMBER HAVING CAMMING MEANS FIXEDLY CONNECTED THERETO, SAIDCAMMING MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE FEELER FINGER THAT IS DISPLACEABLEIN RESPONSE TO THE TRANSPORT MOVEMENT OF AN ARTICLE THROUGH THE FLAPCONDITIONING STATION SO AS TO PRESS SAID FLAP ENGAGING NOSE AGAINST THATPORTION OF THE ARTICLE THAT IS SUPPORTED BY SAID ROLL, SAID NOSE THEREBYSLIDABLY ENGAGING THE FLAP SIDE FACE OF SAID ARTICLE SO AS TO INTERCEPTAND BEND THE FLAP OF SAID ARTICLE AS THE LATTER MOVES THROUGH SAID FLAPCONDITIONING STATION.